Sipadan, located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia, is often cited as one of the world's top scuba diving destinations. This oceanic island rises 600 meters (2,000 feet) from the seabed and offers a unique diving experience with its dramatic walls, abundant marine life, and crystal-clear waters.

Barracuda Point: Ranked as one of the world's best dive sites, Barracuda Point is renowned for its schooling barracudas that create a tornado-like formation. The current can be strong, making it suitable for experienced divers. Other inhabitants include white-tip sharks, green turtles, and bumphead parrotfish.

South Point: For divers looking for larger marine species, South Point is the place to go. This site is known for its occasional sightings of hammerhead and thresher sharks, especially during early morning dives. The strong currents here are more suited to experienced divers.

Coral Gardens: As the name suggests, Coral Gardens offers a stunning display of soft and hard corals, making it an ideal site for beginners and underwater photographers. The reef slope is relatively shallow, with depths between 5-20 meters (16-65 feet), and is inhabited by a variety of colorful reef fish, anemones, and turtles.

Staghorn Crest: This is another perfect site for novice divers. The gentle current and shallow depth allow beginners to enjoy the beautiful scenery of staghorn corals and a multitude of marine species, including bannerfish, clownfish, and angelfish.

The marine life at Sipadan is remarkably diverse, with over 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of different corals. Apart from the iconic barracuda tornado, divers can also encounter a wealth of other marine species, including reef sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, bumphead parrotfish, and schools of jackfish. Macro enthusiasts will also appreciate the nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and frogfish that are found here.

Diving is possible all year round in Sipadan, but the dry season from April to December offers the best conditions. Water temperatures are consistently warm, averaging around 27-30°C (81-86°F), and visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 20 meters (65 feet).

Given its world-class diving status, the cost to dive in Sipadan is relatively high compared to other locations in Malaysia. A single day trip, which includes three dives, transport, equipment rental, and the mandatory Sipadan permit, can cost between $150-$200. It's important to note that Sipadan has a restricted number of permits each day to protect its delicate ecosystem, so booking well in advance is recommended.

From vibrant coral gardens to mesmerizing schools of barracudas, Sipadan offers divers an unrivaled experience. The island's rich biodiversity and spectacular underwater landscapes truly make it a paradise for any scuba diver, whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver.